Cigna initially balked at paying for an MRI for Katherine Gorski, of Lemont. Gorski, a breast cancer survivor, argued that the MRI was medically necessary because a mammogram failed to detect her previous cancer. The MRI was given, and the results were good. (Matt Grotto, Chicago Tribune)

It took a little longer than he hoped, but Joe Molinare finally received his $2,868.59 refund.

The Tinley Park resident, featured in the Nov. 7 column, purchased a cooktop range and double oven from the Sears store in Matteson in April 2012 but did not pick it up because of an illness in his family.

By the time he was ready to pick up the appliances, the Matteson store had closed.

The range and oven were shipped to the Sears in Calumet City, which then also closed.

When Molinare emailed What's Your Problem? in October, he said Sears could not locate his appliances and had not refunded his money.

After the Problem Solver inquired, Sears worked with Molinare's credit card company, Citi, to facilitate a refund.

A week after the column ran, Molinare said he still hadn't received the $2,868.59, prompting him to call Sears again.

That call apparently worked. The credit was processed a few days later.

"The credit showed up on my online statement," a relieved Molinare said in an email last week.

Good medical news

Katherine Gorski remains cancer-free.

The 39-year-old Lemont mother, featured in the Nov. 12 column, had originally contacted What's Your Problem? after her insurance company, Cigna, denied coverage for an MRI of one of her breasts.

Gorski, a breast cancer survivor, argued that the MRI was medically necessary because a mammogram failed to detect her previous cancer, for which she received chemotherapy and radiation.

After those treatments, Gorski appeared to be cancer-free, but her doctor recommended an MRI to ensure that the cancer had not returned.

Cigna initially balked at paying, but after the Problem Solver called, the insurance company requested more medical information, then approved the testing.

Gorski was going to have the MRI immediately after the column ran, but the MRI machine she was scheduled to use broke.

Her husband, Paul Gorski, emailed last week to say the MRI was conducted Nov. 26 — and the results were good.

"The results came back and are negative, which implies there are no abnormalities," he said in an email. "We have a clean bill of health."

Travel troubles

The Problem Solver continues to receive complaints from readers whose prepaid trips to Europe were canceled by American European Travel Inc., including a woman who is awaiting a refund of $2,796.

The Problem Solver forwarded the complaints to the tour company's representative, who promised a swift resolution.

In an email Monday morning, American European Travel's chief executive, Hans-Joachim Blank, said the company understands that affected customers are anxious.

"My team really is working around the clock," Blank wrote.

The CEO said there have been delays because some customers paid with multiple credit cards, and some initiated a chargeback to their credit card and a refund to their banks. Blank said his company needs to make sure it does not issue refunds twice to the same customer.

Blank said about half the refunds from canceled tours have been processed.

"We really do apologize and can assure that within two weeks everything is handled to your complete satisfaction," he wrote.